NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
Five-time Team USA Olympian Katie Uhlaender was on her way to making her sixth Winter Games. But Team Canada’s decision took it all.
With the qualifying shootout during the North American Skeleton Cup in Lake Placid, New York, earlier this month, Canada withdrew four of its athletes from the competition. The withdrawal reduced the total number of points the competition could award, making it impossible for Uhlaender to earn enough money to qualify for the Olympics.
Four of Canada’s women’s skeleton athletes were withdrawn shortly before the competition. Under the rules of the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), only 75% of it points were deducted, statistically eliminating Uhlaender from Milan-Cortina before the first heat started.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH ONE OF THE GAMES ON FOXNEWS.COM
Katie Uhlaender of the US competes in the women’s skeleton event at the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games at the Olympic Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 17, 2018. (James Lang/USA Today Sports)
One of the Canadian athletes said that the coaches said that the reason for their withdrawal was “to take advantage of the way the points worked.”
“They came to explain to us that it would be a big advantage the way the points worked for Jane, so that as a team we could enter two places in the Olympics,” said Canadian skeleton runner Madeline Parra to The Canadian Press.
Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton (BCS) said the decision to withdraw the athletes was made “after a careful assessment of the needs of the program and consultation with the IBSF” and “careful consideration of the athletes’ health, safety and long-term development.”
“It was decided that continuing to run these athletes does not benefit them, nor does it benefit the program,” he added.
For Uhlaender, 41 years old, the result was hard to swallow, but he also sympathizes with all the other competitors who were affected. So, now you are fighting for yourself.
“It hurt all of us,” Uhlaender told Fox News Digital. “So, when I turned around, and I looked at these ladies, because I’m a senior, I’ve been to five Olympics, this would be the sixth.
“So, some of these girls are trying to make their first, and they’re young … so I thought it was my job as an American Olympian and someone who believes in doing the right thing to say something.”
US-BORN OLYMPIC FREESKIER EILEEN GU DODGES QUESTIONS ABOUT CITIZENSHIP AFTER DONATING GOLD IN CHINA
Katie Uhlaender of the US reacts after the women’s double pole vault during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Olympic Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Feb. 16, 2018. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images)
Uhlaender has persuaded the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to send a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), asking for another Olympic venue. Fox News Digital has obtained a copy of the letter.
“These actions violated Olympic standards, undermined fair competition, and ultimately denied Ms. Uhlaender the opportunity to compete in the XXV Milan-Cortina Winter Games,” said the letter, signed by USOPC Chief of Sport & Athlete Services Rocky Harris.
“It cannot be denied that Ms. Uhlaender deserves to go to the Olympic Games.”
Uhlaender previously applied for IBS, and says he had to pay a $5,000 fee to do so.
The Interim Integrity Unit of the IBSF has investigated allegations of competitive manipulation. It acknowledged the withdrawals had caused concern but concluded that governing rules allow teams to withdraw athletes at any time. Because the rulebook has no penalty or protection against late withdrawals that change the allocation of points, the IIU dismissed the appeal.
But Uhlaender did not back down, promising to challenge the decision and even enlisting international support for his cause.
Belgium, South Korea, the Virgin Islands, Malta, Israel and Danish groups have all thrown their support behind Uhlaender’s efforts, sending letters of support to the USOPC to try to get the event more fully investigated.
“Me and my Danish friends, we never talk about Greenland,” Uhlaender joked.
Hlaender even said that some Canadian athletes are secretly supporting him in this fight.
He has not issued a decision to refer this matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) until it is resolved.
Vice President JD Vance will lead the US Presidential delegation to the Milan-Cortina Olympics next month. Uhlaender hopes that the vice president will agree to participate.
“As US Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to meet with the leadership of the International Olympic Committee, I respectfully ask that he stand with me as an Olympian representing the United States of America and our values, the USOPC, and the many affected nations in supporting our appeal to IOC President Kirsty Coventry to use her authority to support justice in Olympic sports by intervening,” the USOPC said.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM
Katie Uhlaender of the US poses for a photo during the Team USA Beijing 2022 Olympic shoot in Irvine, Calif., Sept. 12, 2021. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Team USA)
“Doing so will protect the integrity of competition and prevent further injuries. Such action will send a powerful message to young athletes everywhere: that standing up for ethics and integrity may be difficult, but it is important.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the BCS and IBSF for comment.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on Xand subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle.
